Recent article in An Tirisdeach: A celebration of Music, Language and culture this week in Tiree!
Ar ceòl, ar cànan ’s ar dualchas – our music, our language and our culture. Pride in the rich traditions of Tiree is the theme of Fèis Thiriodh 2011 which starts this week.
Stand out evenings are the night of traditional baking on a busy Thursday, which also brings us a shinty game and a music session, and a talk on the amazing guga hunt in the stormy waters of the Atlantic off the north coast of Lewis. But during the day there are also great classes in singing, Gaelic, guitar, pipes, flute and whistle, accordion and fiddle for young and old – if you want to sign up ring Paper.works at 220055.
- Monday 11th 7.30pm, Adults’ Ceilidh Dancing Class with Jessie Gray, An Talla
Come and learn the steps to old favourites and less usual dances and share a glass of wine. - Tuesday 12th 7pm to register, Car Treasure Hunt, An Talla
How many wind turbines are there on Tiree? What are otter droppings called? Follow the fiendish clues around the island in teams. - Wednesday 13th 7-9pm, Children’s Dance, An Talla
Children of all ages welcome to the best knees-up of the week. - Thursday 14th 7.30pm, Traditional Baking Demonstration, An Talla, Large Hall
Ever wondered how to make the perfect scone or prizewinning dumpling? This year we have the answers, with demonstrations of how to make scones, oatcakes, pancakes, shortbread and dumpling the traditional way. - Shinty game, Reef pitch 7.30pm
14 years and over, men and women, boys and girls, all levels of experience welcome! Equipment provided. Or come and watch the action. - Session, An Talla, Small Hall, 9pm
If you play, sing, dance, tell ghost stories or enjoy a good old-fashioned ceilidh where everyone does something, come along to this informal session. All levels welcome. - Friday 15th 7.30pm till late, Fèis Ceilidh Dance
The evening includes another performance by the West End Players of the hilarious short play An Dileab in Gaelic and English written and directed by Mabel MacArthur. Visiting and local musicians and singers combine with the house dance band to provide an intoxicating blend of song, dance, music and stories. By popular request Donald Iain Brown will again be fear an taighe. - Saturday 17th 7.30pm, Feis Illustrated Talk: The Guga Hunters with Donald Murray, Ringside Theatre, Rural Centre, Crossapol
Every year ten men from Ness in Lewis make the 40 mile trip north to the uninhabited rock Sula Sgeir. There they follow the steps of their ancestors over two weeks in killing and salting 2,000 young gannets, known to the Lewismen as guga. The dark, strong flesh of these birds is an acquired taste! Donald Murray is from Lewis but has strong Tiree connections. He currently teaches in Shetland. His 2008 book The Guga Hunters is required reading for anyone wanting to know about this amazing tradition. The same techniques may have been used on the cliffs of Kenavara in days gone by.
